The civic body has mentioned 111 heritage sites in the state government's official list of ancient monuments, but has left out the all-important list of 49 natural heritage sites
The civic body has mentioned 111 heritage sites in the state government's official list of ancient monuments, but has left out the all-important list of 49 natural heritage sites.
This includes the Parvati hills, Pashan Lake and the Mula-Mutha river basins.
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| Land usurped: Parvati temple hill is surrounded by hutments, which are increasing day by day. Pic/Jignesh Mistry |
The Pune Muncipal Corporation (PMC) it seems has deliberately omitted the list under the fear that they may not able to tackle the encroachments that have already taken place at these sites.
The list of 49 natural heritage sites was prepared by the then heritage committee of the PMC in 2003.
"None of the heritage committee members are able to raise the issue with the PMC as the committees keep changing," said Sujit Patwardhan, a former committee member.
The population in the city has reached almost 42 lakh and the vehicular population is over 20 lakh. "The city has only 10 per cent green belt and this has to be protected," said Prof Vijay Paranjape, president of Gomukh, an NGO that works for the protection of environment. "Instead of protecting the greenery along the river side, how can the PMC construct roads illegally? Encroachments on the natural streams has been causing flood-like situation for the past three years."u00a0
u00a0Forget conserving the bird-watching site near Bund Garden, it has now become a garbage dumping ground.
Because of the dirt and foul smell emanating from here, birds stay away from this spot. The 300-year-old Parvati temple on the hill has been surrounded by slums for the past 50 years. The slum area called Janata Vasahat was established after the Panshet floods in 1961.
Vasant Nulkar, president of Parvati Temples, said it was difficult to keep the place clean, as people from the nearby huts defecated and urinated in this area. "Parvati temples was constructed by Nanasaheb Peshwa, but the PMC has not shown any interest in maintaining it saying the land on the hills belonged to private
owners.
Vinod Jain, Vaibhav Gandhi and many tree lovers are going to the Bombay High Court to file a PIL against the PMC. "When Delhi and Mumbai are actively working to protect such natural sites, why is the PMC so reluctant to do so?" Jain asked. "How can the PMC allow construction of a chowpatty near Khadakwasala Lake and Nanded city project at Nanded Island when both the places have been declared as a natural heritage site?" he asked.
